JERUSALEM, Israel -- Palestinian Arabs pelted the convoy of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with rocks, shoes and sticks as it entered the Gaza Strip through the Erez Crossing Thursday morning.

The "welcoming committee," mostly family members of prisoners, carried posters accusing the U.N. chief of pro-Israeli bias, Reuters reported.

The convoy made its way through the protesters with no injuries.

About 5,000 Palestinian Arabs are serving time in Israeli jails, most for terror-related crimes.

Later Thursday, Ban will visit Sapir College near the southern Israeli city of Sderot, a frequent target of Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza.

Afterward, the secretary-general will meet with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Kadima chairwoman and opposition leader Tzipi Livni.

Ban will deliver the keynote address at the 2012 Herzliya conference later on Thursday.   

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